A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
Last updated -- hours ago | Report incorrect information
Company ProductName Specs
Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Grado GT220 offers excellent overall sound quality and is a premium choice suitable for high-fidelity music listening. However, they may lack features like active noise cancelling or an app equalizer, making them less versatile for environments with a lot of background noise or if you like to customize your sound experience. In contrast, the Sony WH-CH520 is more budget-friendly and provides features such as longer battery life, app equalizer for sound customization, and a comfortable over-ear design, making it suitable for long listening sessions, calls, and meetings. The Sony’s higher mic quality also makes them better for phone calls. If active noise cancellation and virtual surround are not priorities, and you prefer the convenience of longer playtime and sound customization, the Sony WH-CH520 might be more suitable for day-to-day use, despite their lower overall sound quality compared to the Grado GT220. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Grado GT220
- The Grado GT220 has no clear advantages over the Sony WH-CH520.
Advantages of the Sony WH-CH520
- Good for music
- Very good for gaming
- Very good for TV and video
- Very good for air travel
Key differences
Music
6.3
7.6
The Sony WH-CH520 is good for music, while the Grado GT220 is only fair.
Gaming
5.1
8.8
The Sony WH-CH520 is very good for gaming, while the Grado GT220 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.8
8.0
The Grado GT220 and Sony WH-CH520 are both very good for podcasts and audiobooks, though the Grado GT220 is somewhat better.
TV and Video
5.5
8.2
The Sony WH-CH520 is very good for TV and video, while the Grado GT220 is poor.
Noise Reduction
5.3
4.6
The Grado GT220 and Sony WH-CH520 are both poor for noise reduction, though the Grado GT220 is somewhat better.
Battery
5.5 Hours
52.0 Hours
The Grado GT220 has 5.5 hours of battery life. The Sony WH-CH520 has 52 hours of battery life.
Cost
$259
$40
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The Grado GT220 has a price of $259 and the Sony WH-CH520 costs $40.
Build Quality
8.8
7.0
The Grado GT220 has very good build quality, while the Sony WH-CH520 has good build quality.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Headphones
Find your new headphones
Key similarities
Phone Calls
6.9
6.7
The Grado GT220 and Sony WH-CH520 are both only fair for phone calls.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Grado GT220 and the Sony WH-CH520 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Grado GT220 | Sony WH-CH520 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$259 | $40 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Grado | Sony | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | September 1, 2020 | April 1, 2023 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Earbuds | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wireless | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 6.4/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 7/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 5.2/10 | 8.8/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 5.5/10 | 8.2/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 6.2/10 | 6.4/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | 5.5 Hours | 52 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | Yes | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | 2 Hours | 1.9 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | 5 | 5.2 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | 36 | N/A | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 5.3/10 | 4.6/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | No | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | No | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | No | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | 6/10 | 8/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 8.8/10 | 7/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 7.6/10 | 10/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | Small | N/A | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 5 Grams | 147.41 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | Integrated | Integrated | |
Shopping
Grado GT220
See more
Dig into reviews and images
Major HiFi
Alex Schiffer | October 2020
"With its superb and functional interface and its highly satisfying imaging, Grado has shown a new talent for delivering a solid true wireless system, and with future improvements, has the potential to really be one of the best."
Sony WH-CH520
See more
Dig into reviews and images
Sound Guys
Christian Thomas | September 2023
"If you’re looking for headphones that simply do what you ask them to: the Sony WH-CH520 is a decent option, even if it isn’t very exciting. Sony’s WH-CHXXX line fits this role quite well, and the WH-CH520 offers a decent raft of quality-of-life updates over its predecessor that should keep listeners happy. If the Sony WH-CH520 were a car, it’d be the boring-but-safe commuter compact."
Get a great deal on the Grado GT220 or the Sony WH-CH520
About Grado
Grado Labs is a small, family-owned, business based in Brooklyn New York that specializes in high-end, boutique, dynamic headphones and turntable cartridges. They boast a particular house sound, that is to say their products have a particular sound signature unique to Grado, that some audiophiles seem to really like and are unable to find anywhere else. Their high-end headphones are all hand made, completely in house, from a variety of exotic woods and materials going so far as to making one of their most popular products out of hemp.
About Sony
Sony is a multinational corporation, based out of Japan, with over 75 years of experience in the consumer electronics industry. In the audio market, Sony has been a trendsetter several times throughout its history. In 1979 they released the first-ever portable music player, the Sony Walkman, followed by the Discman 20 years later. Today, Sony is one of the leaders in the wireless headphone and earbud market, especially in terms of Active Noise Cancellation technology.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Earbuds or Headphones guides you might be interested in
More comparisons for you
FAQs
FAQs about earbuds and headphones
Why trust us
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
108
Earbuds and headphones evaluated
11,340
Earbuds and headphones stats compiled
15
Proprietary Earbuds and headphones ratings developed
122,600
Recommendations made
18,390
Consumer hours saved
About the Earbuds or Headphones team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Luis Torres
Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.
Featured in
